Deuteronomy 27

New English Translation

The Assembly at Shechem

27 Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Pay attention to all the commandments^[a] I am giving^[b] you today. ² When you cross the Jordan River^[c] to the land the Lord your God is giving you, you must erect great stones and cover^[d] them with plaster. ³ Then you must inscribe on them all the words of this law when you cross over, so that you may enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors,^[e] said to you. ⁴ So when you cross the Jordan you must erect on Mount Ebal^[f] these stones about which I am commanding you today, and you must cover them with plaster. ⁵ Then you must build an altar there to the Lord your God, an altar of stones—do not use an iron tool on them. ⁶ You must build the altar of the Lord your God with whole stones and offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. ⁷ Also you must offer fellowship offerings and eat them there, rejoicing before the Lord your God. ⁸ You must inscribe on the stones all the words of this law, making them clear.”

⁹ Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel: “Be quiet and pay attention, Israel. Today you have become the people of the Lord your God. ¹⁰ You must obey him^[g] and keep his commandments and statutes that I am giving you today.” ¹¹ Moreover, Moses commanded the people that day: ¹² “The following tribes^[h] must stand to bless the people on Mount Gerizim when you cross the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. ¹³ And these other tribes must stand for the curse on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

The Covenant Curses

¹⁴ “The Levites will call out to every Israelite^[i] with a loud voice: ¹⁵ ‘Cursed is the one^[j] who makes a carved or metal image—something abhorrent^[k] to the Lord, the work of the craftsman^[l]—and sets it up in a secret place.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’^{[m] 16} ‘Cursed^[n] is the one who disrespects^[o] his father and mother.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ ¹⁷ ‘Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor’s boundary marker.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ ¹⁸ ‘Cursed is the one who misleads a blind person on the road.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ ¹⁹ ‘Cursed is the one who perverts justice for the resident foreigner, the orphan, and the widow.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ ²⁰ ‘Cursed is the one who goes to bed with^[p] his father’s former wife,^[q] for he dishonors his father.’^[r] Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ ²¹ ‘Cursed is the one who commits bestiality.’^[s] Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ ²² ‘Cursed is the one who goes to bed^[t] with his sister, the daughter of either his father or mother.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ ²³ ‘Cursed is the one who goes to bed^[u] with his mother-in-law.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ ²⁴ ‘Cursed is the one who kills^[v] his neighbor in private.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ ²⁵ ‘Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ ²⁶ ‘Cursed is the one who refuses to keep the words of this law.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’